"We're just very happy as a district that we're moving forward on this," Phillipsburg Superintendent George Chando said. "We're anxiously awaiting getting started with this project."

The overall high school project will cost $145 million, including previous stages dating back to 2005, such as the installation of athletic fields at the Belvidere Road property in Lopatcong Township. Construction is expected to begin in late August or early September, and last about 30 months, Chando said.

"We're certainly optimistic and pleased at this moment, but we've learned that you can't count your chickens," Lizotte said.

The development authority's board of directors could vote to accept the low bid as early as its April 3 meeting, authority spokeswoman Kristen MacLean said.

Once they do, Gov. Chris Christie has a 10-day period to possibly veto it, so the bid award is not expected to be finalized until late April, MacLean said.

The four other bidders could also file a protest with the state, which occurred when the high school project's bids were originally opened on Dec. 20. At that time, the low bidder was Bergen County-based Terminal Construction, which bid $82.4 million.

But the process was challenged when some bidders said language in the bid documents was too vague, so the state decided to restart the bidding process, MacLean said. Bids opened today ranged from Epic Construction's $80.5 million low bid to a high bid of $84.9 million, she said.

Terminal Construction bid $81.9 million the second time.

All students in grades 9 through 12 from Phillipsburg and all the district's sending municipalities will attend the new high school. The district is also developing a comprehensive facilities plan that could result in schools being consolidated or the redistricting of some students into new buildings.

Chando previously said the district is currently meeting with architects, and will eventually bring recommendations and hold public hearings on the plan within the next few months.